Translating means for electrical currents



M. MAUL June 3, 1941.

TRANSLATING MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENTS Filed June 6, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR W @M B M ATTORNEYS M. MAUL June 3, 1941.

TRANSLATING MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENTS Filed June 6, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 87 ATTORNEYS June 3, 1941. M. MAUL 7 TRANS'LATING MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENTS Filed June 6, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig, 5

- ATTORNEYS Jun 3, 1941. M. MAUL 2,244,257

TRANSLATING MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENTS Filed June 6, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.6.

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INVENTOR ATTO R N EY June 3, 1941. u 2,244,257

TRANSLATING MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENTS Filed June 6, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 7

INVENTOR $0M M AT-TORNEY Patented June 3, 1941 TRANSLATING MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENTS Michael Maul, Berlin-Johannisthal, Germany, assignor to the firm Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft m. b. H., Berlin-Lichterfelde, Germany Application June 6, 1939, Serial No. 277,660 In.Germany August 10, 1938 1 Claim.

' This invention relates to machines in which the control for instrumentalities of the machine is eifected by transmitting electrical currents of different relative magnitudes, and the present improvement is directed to an improved form of means for translating such currents so that they can suitably control the aforesaid instrumentaliies.

Various forms of devices have been devised for transmitting currentsof different relative magnitudes under control of printed records or records having perforations so that upon the analysis of the marks on the records currents of different intensities or magnitude may be transmitted.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of arrangement for causing such currents to be translated so that they may control devices which may effect a recording or printing of the meaning of such currents.

More specifically it is an object of the present invention to devise a translating device for such currents which consists of a plurality of pairs of relays. adjusted so that one of such relays will be responsive to a current of a predetermined magnitude thereby selecting an impulse transmitting line. The relays lower in order are also energized so as to render inoperative the impulse transmitting lines lower in order but the relays higher in order are not responsive or operative so that the related impulse lines remain in their normally ineffective condition.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a means for utilizing the impulse transmitted over the selected line. In the present illustration two difierent forms of recording machines are'disclosed as well as their maiineF' of control by the improved translating device disclosed herein.

Further objects of the instant invention reside in any novel feature of construction or operation or novel combination of parts present in the embodiment of the invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings, whether within or without the scope of the appended claims and irrespective of other specific statements as to the scope of the invention contained herein.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the assembly of the two sets of relays, there being ten relays in each set, although they are not all shown. One pair of relays is provided for each difierent digit,

A pair of related relays are tuned or -9 inclusive, and the pairs are arranged in serial order.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of one of the pairs of relays and Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the other relay of the same pair.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the relay shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is the wiring diagram for the two sets of relays.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical wiring connection of the translator shown in Fig. 5 to the controlling device which imparts electrical currents of different magnitude to the relays of the translator. This view also shows the electrical connections to impulse transmitting devices and a controlling device for a printing machine whereby the translated representations may be manifested by printing.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but shows how the improved translator may control another recording machine of a well known type.

The translator for currents of different magnitudes preferably comprises ten pairs of serially ordered relays, the relay generally designated by R being located at the left and the relay of the related pair, generally designated by R, being located at the right. As best shown in Fig. 1 the relays R and R are designated by sub-scripts relating to digits 0 and 1-9 inclusive by respective sub-scripts 10 and 1-9. Each pair of related relays R and R has the same subscript and are functionally related. There is, of course, ten pairs of relays, although the arrangement is not limited to such number and may vary according to the different magnitudes of the electrical currents directed to the relays.

The detailed construction of the relays is shown in Figs. 2, Ii, and 4 wherein it will be seen that the armature 20 of each relay R. is maintained by a spring s against a stop of insulating material carried by an adjustable screw 22 carried :by a goose-neck 2-5. One end of the spring s is connected to the armature 20 and the other end is connected to a cord 23 wound around an adjustable screw 24. When the magnitude of the current directed to the magnet of the relay R attracts the armature 20 and is of suflicient strength to overcome the spring s the armature 20 will engage a contact point 2| to close contact points is. Obviously by applying a screw driver to the screw 24 the tension of the spring s may be adjusted so as to make the relay re sponsive to a current of a predetermined magnitude.

A corresponding means for adjustment is als provided for the spring a of relay R. shown in Fig. 3, but the armature of this relay is normally maintained to eilfect the closure of electrical contacts k and when attracted it will engage a stop of insulating material and thus open the electrical'circuit connection made by the normal clo sure of electrical contacts is.

The tension of the springs s and s of a related pair of respective relays R and R is so selected that the tension of the spring s for relay magnet R can be overcome by the current passing through the magnet of relay R to close contacts R: but the spring 3' of the other related relay R is somewhat stronger than the spring 8 so that the same electrical current passing through the magnet of relay R will not permit the armature of the relay R to be attracted and electrical contacts k will remain closed.

This will be made clearer by reference to a specific pair of relays R4 and R4, shown in Fig. 5. These relays are tuned" or made responsive or unresponsive to a current having a strength or magnitude of 4 units. The spring s4 of relay R4 is adjusted so that the relay will respond to a. current strength of 3.5 units and since the magnetic force of the relay R4 upon the armature thereof is equal to 4 units then the armature will be attracted to close contacts k4. The spring s'4 of relay R'4 will be adjusted so that the relay will respond to a current of 4.5 units and since the current strength of 4 units will not cause the armature of relay R'4 to be attracted the related relay contacts k'4 will remain open.

From the wiring diagram of Fig. 5 it is seen that the set of relays R1R1o are in multiple and the set of R'1-R'1o are also in multiple. By means of wire connections from lines a and'b both sets of relays are'connected in multiple so that currents of different magnitudes applied to lines a and b will be sent to the magnets of all relays. The tuning" or adjustment of the springs of the pairs of relays in arbitrary units is designated in Fig. 5 by figures enclosed in circles adjacent such springs. It is obvious that relays R1R1o, will be adjusted to be responsive to currents having. a strength unit 1-10 and thus close the related k contacts. The relays R, however, lower in digital representation or serial order will be responsive to such currents to thus open related k contacts. Hence only a selected pair of relays will close contacts is by one relay and allow contacts k to remain closed by the other relay of the related pair so that a certain impulse transmitting line l1-l1o will be selected.

In the preceding example contacts k4 will close and contacts k '4 will remain closed thus selecting line 14. However, contacts k'l, kZ, k! will open and contacts k1, k2, It: will close and the simultaneous opening and closing of respective contacts is and k of relays R and R lower in serial order will prevent the selection of the lines 1 lower in serial order. Of course relays R and R higher in serial order will not be responsive and the conto the lines a and b and one form is shown diagrammatically as a part of Fig. 6.

Reference numeral 20a designates a record which is to be analyzed and on which digits are printed according to a system in which the area of digit representation varies for each digit. That is. the printed digits are differentiated from each other by varying their relative sizes or area of printing, each character covering by printing a different percentage of a standard field. The characters 0-9 are therefore, graduated in their representations. I

The analyzing device for such characters preferably comprises a light source 5| which passes through a lens 52 and falls on the record 20a, 2. selected character of which reflects a certain amount of light. The image is concentrated in a transparent plate 53 behind which is a photocell 54 which is energized in proportion to the quantity of light cast through the plate 53 on the photocell. The photocell current is then amplified by the amplifier unit 55 and flows to lines a and b. The digits will, therefore, cause currents of predetermined units to be transmitted to lines a and b, so as to select a certain impulse transmitting line 1.

Figure 6 also shows one form of an arrangement for utilizing the translation of such current strengths and comprises a printing device for printing such characters in the same machine the digits are analyzed, or at a distance.

The printing device is preferably of a well known form which is utilized in tabulating'machines as for this reason is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 6. Further details of construction are shown in the patent to Daly et al., #1,762,145, dated June 10. 1930.

Impulses are directed to a type selecting magnet 34 in series with a line 35 and a battery 3| at diil'erential times by means of a commutator 33, the switch arm of whichrotates synchronously with a cam which elevates a type carrying bar 42. The lines l1-i1o are connected to the contact points of commutator 33. v When a selected type is at the printing line the impulse from a selected line I will energize magnet 34 which will rock a member 36 to release a latch 31. The latter will engage a tooth 38 of the typebar 42 stopping its movement so that by a. conventional printing hammer, printing may be eifected from the selected type.

Figure 7 shows another utilization of the present translator. The lines |1|1o are connected to printing controlling magnets 45 which when energized actuate printing hammers of a conventional typewriter. The commutator 33 is dispensed with in this arrangement since timed impulses are unnecessary to effect printing. The analysis of the record is eifected in the Fig. 7 arrangement as previously described and reference numeral 32 in Fig. 7 refers to the specific arrangement shown in Fig. 6.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claim.

What is claimed is:

A translator for translating currents of difierent magnitudes representative of digits to control a machine comprising a pair of impulse receiving lines for said currents, an impulse receiving and transmitting device comprising means responsive to receive a digit representation and to transmit the-representations of the digits by currents of difl'erent magnitudes to said lines, a plurality of pairs of relays, one pair of relays for each digit, each relay being connected across said lines to cause some to be energized by the currents transmitted to said lines, the first relay of each pair controlling normally open contacts and the second relay of each pair controlling normally closed contacts, the open and closed contacts controlled by each pair of relays being in circuit connection with an associated digit impulse transmitting line, there being a plurality of digit impulse transmitting lines, a source of power connected at one side to all of said impulse transmitting lines through controlling elements of the machine and connectable at the other side to a transmitting line selected by the closure of the normally open contacts of the first relay of one pair and the closed contacts of the second relay of the same pair, individual means for adjusting the series of relays controlling the normally open contacts to cause the closure of the respective contacts progressively as the magnitude of the current impressed on the impulse receiving lines is changed, and individual means for adjusting the series of relays controlling the normally closed contacts to cause said} contacts to be opened progressively as the current impressed on the lines is changed in magnitude, the adjustments for the last named relays being staggered between adjustments for the relays controlling the normally open contacts.

MICHAEL MAUL. 

